Blog tagged as chimney fire and chimney problems

The main causes of an out of control fire are problems with the air control, poorly maintained appliance or simply using the wrong fuel

Overfiring is when a wood-burning stove operates at a higher temperature than it was designed to handle, usually due to excessive fuel, too much airflow, incorrect fuel, or faulty equipment.

Draw (draft) is the normal upward flow of air that carries smoke, hot gases, and fumes out through the chimney. Reverse draw (downdraft/backdraft) occurs when this airflow is weakened or reversed, causing smoke and fumes to be pushed back into the room instead of exiting the chimney.

Smoke spillage occurs when smoke enters the room instead of rising safely up the chimney. This can be dangerous and should be investigated promptly. Below are the most common causes and recommended solutions.

If you have noticed creosote in your fireplace or tar dripping or forming in your stove or flue exist pipe then you could be heading for a chimney fire